Device for modifying the operation of venetian blinds



y 1959 F. MICCICHE ET AL 2,894,574

DEVICE FOR MODIFYING THE. OPERATION OF VENETIAN BLINDS Filed June 7, 1957 INVENTORS FRfl/VK M/CC/CHE JOHN L. Dnv/ Frank Micciche, Floral Park, and John L. David, East Meadow, N.Y.

Application June 7, 1957, Serial No. 664,383 1 Claim. (Cl. 160-415) This invention relates to Venetian blinds and more specifically to a novel and improved device for adjusting blinds to obtain difierent modes of operation.

Conventional Venetian blinds generally comprise a plurality of parallel slats supported horizontally by vertical tapes. Means are provided for operation of the tapes to shift the angular position of all slats simultaneously to completely open or completely close the blind. Devices have been proposed for use in connection with blinds for modifying their operation so that the slats in one section of the blind will assume one angular position while the slats in another section will assume another angular position. Such proposed devices however have been found unsatisfactory for a number of reasons including cost, installation difiiculties and the like.

Apparatus according to the invention overcomes the aforementioned and other difficulties with prior devices and is characterized by its simplicity, low cost, versatility, and ease of attachment to a blind and removal therefrom by the user.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved Venetian blind attachment that may be quickly and easily installed at one or more positions along the Venetian blind tapes to produce a wide variety of modes of slat operation and at the same time will not interfere in any way with the normal raising and lowering of the blind.

Still another object of the invention is a novel and improved device for modifying slat positions on a Venetian blind.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a Venetian blind modified in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the blind section shown in Fig. 2 with the slats moved to a difierent position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a Venetian blind showing another application of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a fragmentary section of a rear tape; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Reference is now made to the drawings and more specifically to Fig. 1 showing a Venetian blind modified in accordance with the invention. The blind includes an elongated rectangular housing 10 for supporting the blind and enclosing the operating mechanism controlled by cords 11 and 11'. Two dual tapes 13 support the transverse slats 12 in the usual manner so that manipulation of the dual tapes by the cords 11 will modify the angular position of the slats for opening and closing the blind.

The blind shown in Fig. 1 has been modified in accordance with the invention so that the slats in the upper section generally denoted by A are inclined upwardly 2,894,574 Patented July 14, 1959 while the slats in the lower section B are inclined slightly downwardly. In this way one section of the blind can be adjusted to an open position while the other is moved to a closed position. With this invention the blind sections can be proportioned in any desired manner and if desired the blind can be divided into more than two sections with the slats in the several sections having different angular relationships.

The adjustment or modification of Venetian blinds is accomplished by the structure shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6. Referring first to Fig. 2 each dual tape 13 is formed of two individual tapes or strips 15 and 16 of flexible material. The strips are joined by flexible transverse members 17 which support the slats 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear tape or strip 15 of each dual tape 13 is preferably provided with a series of eyelets 15 extending throughout the length as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, it being understood that other equivalent connectors may also be employed. The eyelets or connectors are spaced at substantially equal intervals with two eyelets disposed one above the other between adjoining slats.

To shift the relative position of one section of slats relative to another, a clip 19 of metal, plastic or the like having a generally U-shaped configuration with inwardly formed ends 20 is engaged with two of the eyelets .13 to shorten the tape 15 relative to the tape 16 as shown in Fig. 2. While the clips 19 may engage any two eyelets depending upon the adjustment or mode of operation desired, for purposes of illustration they are shown in engagement with eyelets 18 above one slat 12 and below the adjoining lower slat. This results in a shortening of the tape 15 as shown at 15' and causes the slats 12 below the clip 19 to be inclined while the slats above the clip are horizontal. Inasmuch as the clips 19 on each of the dual tapes 13 are not permanently attached, they can be shifted to any desired position or even removed entirely if conventional operation is desired.

With the slats 12 adjusted as shown in Fig. 2, movement of the front tape 16 upwardly relative to the rear tape 15 to the position shown in Fig. 3 brings the slats 12 above the clip 19 to inclined positions and the slats 12 below the clip to horizontal positions. Further movement of the tapes will incline all of the slats 12 but the same general relative angular position between the upper and lower groups of slats will be maintained.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the eyelets 18 have been shown on the rear tapes 15 though it is to be understood that they may be included on either or both the tapes or strips 15 and 16 of both dual tapes 13 inasmuch as similar operation can be obtained by shortening the front portions 16.

To illustrate the versatility of the invention, reference is made to Fig. 4 showing the use of two clips 19 on each of the rear tape portions 15. In this case the upper section A of slats 12 is inclined downwardly to the left, the slats 12 of the center section B are horizontal and the slats 12 of the lower section C are inclined downwardly to the right.

In the normal case, a single series of eyelets 18 is needed for each tape. However when the slats 12 are formed of relatively heavy material it may be desirable to use two or more rows of eyelets 18 on each tape in order to provide adequate support for the slats and prevent damage to the tapes. It is also to be understood that the invention is applicable to blinds having more than two vertical supporting tapes.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it is apparent that modifications, alterations and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is: lets on each strip being spaced apart a distance greater The combination with a Venetian blind having at least than the distance between said hooks to shorten one strip two dual vertically disposed tapes, each formed of a pair of each tape relative to the other strip of each tape. of confronting interconnected strips of flexible material and a plurality of slats supported in spaced horizontal 5 References Cit d i th fil f thi t t relationship by said tapes, of a plurality of spaced eyelets on at least one strip of each tape and a clip carried by UNITED STATES PATENTS and engaging at least two eyelets on each of the last said 167,942 Seaman Sept. 21, 1875 strips, each of said clips comprising an elongated inem- 1,365,919 Jones Jan. 18, 1921 her having its ends bent upon themselves to form two 10 1,517,118 Lawrence Nov. 25, 1924 hooks in spaced relationship, each of said hooks extend 2,115,663 Balthasar Apr. 26, 1938 ing through and engaging an eyelet with the engaged eye- 

